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PACKAGING OF POTATO

Introduction

Packaging of Potato

• India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables

• It will have significance only when fruits and vegetables reach

the consumer in fresh and palatable condition at a reasonable

price

• Due to heavy post harvest losses, a considerable gap between

production and availability of fruits and vegetables to consumers

• Post-harvest losses are occurring in the period between

harvesting and consumption

• An urgent need to adopt proper post harvest management

practices by adopting improved packaging, handling and efficient

transportation methods

Packaging of Potato

Introduction cont…..

• Packaging is required to keep fruits, vegetables and root

crops in good condition until it is soled and consumed

• Packaging serves as an efficient handling unit to carry

produce from field to consumer

• The package should also protect the produce against rotting

• Packages must protect against possible damage

Packaging of Potato

Definition of Food Packaging

Food packaging is defined as a mean or system by which a fresh

produce or processed product will reach from the production centre

to the ultimate consumer in safe and sound condition at an

affordable price

Packaging of Potato

Functions of Packaging Material

Two main functions of packaging are:

1. To assemble the produce into convenient units for

handling.

2. To protect the produce during distribution, storage and

marketing.

Packaging of Potato

• Serves as an efficient handling unit

• Protects from mechanical damage

• Protects against moisture loss

• Provides clean and sanitary storage

• To prevent pilferage

• Provides sales and service motivation

• Reduces cost of transport and marketing

Packaging materials used to serve the following purposes

Packaging of Potato

Packaging Materials for Fresh Produce 1. Basket made of woven strips of leaves, bamboo, plastic etc.

2. Sacks: flexible, made of plastic or jute.

i) Bags: small size sack

ii) Nets: sacks made of open mesh

3. Wooden crates

4. Fibreboard boxes

i) Solid fibreboard boxes

ii) Corrugated fibreboard boxes

5. Plastic crates

6. Biodegradable plastics

7. New innovations in packaging of fruits, vegetables and root crops

8. Pallet boxes and shipping containers

Packaging of Potato

Packaging Materials for Process Products

Packaging for processed products is of several types:

1. Glass containers

2. Metal cans

3. Aluminium foil

4. Plastic materials

5. Collapsible containers

6. Composite containers

Packaging of Potato

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• Cushioning material used for packaging fruits and vegetables are

dry grass, paddy straw, leaves, saw dust, paper shreds etc

• It should dissipate the heat of respiration of the produce

• It should be free from infection and should be physiologically

inactive

• Moulded pulp tray, honeycomb portion, cell pack are used

replacing the cushioning material

• Cassia leaves are most effective in reducing physiological loss in

weight (PLW), spoilage, retaining fruit colour and chemical quality

Packaging of Potato

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• One of the newest trends in produce packaging is the shrink-

wrapping of individual produce items

• Shrink-wrapping with an engineered plastic wrap can reduce

• shrinkage,

• protect the produce from disease,

• reduce mechanical damage and

• provide a good surface for stick-on labels

Packaging of Potato

Packing

• Containers should not be filled either too loosely or too tightly for

best results

• Loose products may vibrate against each other and cause bruising

• While over-packing results in compression bruising

• Proper filling along with cushioning can minimize rubbing damage

Packaging of Potato

Packaging of Potato

• Commonly used packaging materials for potato are fibre mesh

sacks, plastic film sacks, burlap bags

• Tinted plastic bags are used to reduce light transmission to the

tubers

• Tubers in the transparent film bags should be protected from

direct sunlight to avoid greening of the tubers

• Potatoes are taken in plastic crates for local market

Packaging of Potato

Special Care in Packaging

• All freshly harvested produce are living entities

• They respire till their senescence

• The packaging must be provided with enough vents

• The produce can respire appropriately and remains fresh and

alive

Packaging of Potato

Potato Packaging Bag

25X50 mesh Potato Packaging bag

Potato Packaging

Leno bag for Potato packaging

Packaging of Potato

Potato Packaging

500 X 667 Holland Potatoes Packaging

Packaging of Potato

Source: http://www.ecopac.co.uk/AboutUs.aspx

Potato Box for Packaging

Packaging of Potato

Flexible Packaging for Potato ProductsSource: http://www.google.co.in/

Processed Potato Product Packaging

Packaging of Potato

Flexible Packaging for Potato ProductsSource: http://www.google.co.in/

Packaging of Potato

Potatopak Products

• 100% Biodegradable

• 100%Compostable

• Not harmful to human, animal or marine lifeeven if eaten by mistake

• Main ingredient is Potato starch

• Manufactured by compression moulding

• Product range: plates, trays, bowls and

• punnets

Bioplastics 2002, York Potatopak Ltd

Packaging of Potato

• Food packaging is a system by which the fresh produce or

processed one will reach from the production centre to the ultimate

consumer in safe and sound condition at an affordable cost

• It serves two basic objectives, i.e., marketing and logistics

• Adopting improved packaging, handling and transportation methods

during distribution and marketing can successfully avert huge post

harvest losses

• The product requirements, the marketing system and the personnel

preference will determine the type of packaging to use

• Potato can be used to make biodegradable packaging material

Let Us Sum Up

Packaging of Potato